The voices add up, despite the fact that the official silence continues and the seats in the Formula 1 of this season were taken up at the end of 2024, when Red Bull confirmed the promotion of its young Academy drivers following the departure of Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez. However, rumors of a link with Franco Colapinto and Alpine They are getting stronger and an announcement is expected in the next few hours.
But how, then the 21-year-old Argentine will be one of the 20 drivers to start the World Championship in Melbourne, when the Australian GP gets underway on March 14? No. Jack Doohan He will start his home grand prix as a partner of Pierre Gasly and will probably accompany the Frenchman for several more races.
But the specialized medium The Race He added his sources to the theories that place Franco in the French team led by the Italian Flavio Briatore for a few months: “Colapinto is closing a deal for his role at Alpine in 2025”titled the note he published this Wednesday.
“Red Bull and Alpine were known to have met with Colapinto and his management teamand had had conversations with Williams about the possibility of signing him for 2025 and strengthening their driver options. But that interest cooled when Colapinto had a more complicated end to the season, with heavy accidents in Brazil, both in qualifying and during a safety car in the race, and in qualifying in Las Vegas,” analyzed journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm. .
He added: “Red Bull ultimately decided not to include Colapinto in its 2025 driver changes across its two teams, but negotiations with Alpine continued, despite having already confirmed Doohan for a 2025 race seat in August. 2024. As reported by the prominent Argentine sports publication Olé, and confirmed by The Race, Colapinto’s role at Alpine expected to be confirmed soon“.
“It is unclear whether he will join permanently or with provisions for a possible return to Williamsas a “loan” move was part of the initial discussions, but Colapinto will not immediately take up a racing seat at Alpine,” the publication clarified, emphasizing that “Doohan, who made his F1 debut earlier than planned in the last race of Abu Dhabi 2024 after the premature departure of Esteban Ocon from Alpine, he is secure in his role as a racing driver at least for the start of 2025.
So, the signing of Colapinto aims to strengthen “the group of Alpine drivers” as he would have him as a reserve and long-term option someone who already has F1 experience, “in contrast to his brief F2 rival from 2024, Paul Aron, who joined Alpine’s youth program at the end of last year, and longtime Alpine junior Victor Martins.”
In addition, the native of Pilar It will work as an element of pressure for a Doohan who would already have a contract with only a handful of guaranteed races.. “The presence of Colapinto – The Race stressed – in the background will only increase the pressure on Doohan, especially given the significant commercial interest that accompanied the young Argentine driver during his time in F1 with Williams. Although any performance clause for Doohan would simply be a A more aggressive version of what often exists in drivers’ contracts, especially rookies, would still mean Doohan’s fate is in his own hands if he performs at or above the level Alpine demands. of him, there will be no need and perhaps not even a method to replace him with Colapinto.
Regarding that, the journalist from Planet F1, Thomas Maheradded: “There seems to be some basis in the speculation coming from Argentina about the possible incorporation of Franco Colapinto to Alpine. Although Jack Doohan will be Alpine’s starting driver, sources have indicated that, as with most deals, performance will be a determining factor.”
On the social network ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), speculation points to an announcement this January 9. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto takes advantage of his last days in Buenos Aires, where he has remained since December 14, to carry out procedures such as the one he carried out on Tuesday at the Oscar and Juan Gálvez Autodrome when he was received by the Association’s driver service center. Argentina de Volantes (AAV) for the issuance of the ACA CDA Medical License and the renewal of its professional license.
Both he and his managers, María Catarineu and Jamie Campbell Walter, maintain a media silence, without giving interviews and barely uploading some personal content to their social networks. The one who did speak was Aníbal Colapinto, the driver’s father, with a suggestive post on Instagram that he quickly had to delete: “There are few of us who already know everything… F1 2025.” Since then, rumors have grown again until it is now said that an Alpine announcement is imminent.